Motoring costs

Taxpayers who do not drive heavily subsidise the average motorist

In Letters, Nov 2012 Mike West says that car drivers generate billions for the government in "road tax" and fuel duty.

The report "Road transport fuel prices, demand and tax revenues: impact of fuel duty escalator and price stabiliser" undertaken by the Policy Institute puts revenue from fuel duty to be £29 billion. Road tax was abolished in 1937. However the Department for Transport puts the cost of road accidents at around £34 billion. This figure does not include the cost of road maintainance or air, noise and water pollution. In short, taxpayers who do not drive heavily subsidise the average motorist.

Blaise Kelly, Manchester

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